Summer heat is tough enough, but losing power when you’re relying on air conditioning, fans, or even garden timers just makes it worse. Yet in many U.S. states, summer power outages are not only common, they’re becoming longer and more disruptive.
A new report by Wolf River Electric, analyzing federal outage data from 2019 through 2023, reveals the U.S. states most at risk of major summer power failures. The study focused on outages that left 5,000 or more utility customers without electricity during the hot months of May through August. The results are striking, and not exactly comforting for some regions.
Michigan Tops the List With the Most Frequent and Prolonged Summer Outages
According to the data, Michigan ranks number one for both the number and length of major outages. Over the last five summers, the state experienced more than 12,000 major power outages, averaging 34,068 hours without electricity each year. That’s the same as nearly four years of combined outage time spread across the state each summer. Long blackout durations can be particularly dangerous during peak heat waves, especially for households with medical needs, young children, or aging residents.
Texas Outages Last the Longest
Texas came in second for the number of major outages (7,164), but its average outage duration was even higher than Michigan’s, topping 35,440 hours per year. With many homes relying on electric air conditioning to combat triple-digit temperatures, prolonged blackouts in Texas can quickly become a health hazard.
California Sees Many Outages, But Recovers Faster
Coming in third, California recorded over 6,000 large-scale outages but restored power faster than the top two. The state’s average annual outage time was 9,553 hours, a number that’s still significant but indicates quicker response and grid recovery in most events.
Florida and Maryland Show Two Sides of the Same Storm
Florida saw fewer outages overall (2,348), but they tended to drag on, averaging 18,038 hours of downtime each year, a clear concern for a humid, hurricane-prone state. Meanwhile, Maryland had nearly 1,900 outages but the shortest average duration among the top five states — just 335 hours annually — suggesting many smaller, quickly resolved events.
Where Else Are the Lights Going Out?
Other states in the top 10 include:
- New York – 873 major outages, 3,964 hours of outage time annually
- Alabama – 847 outages, 8,159 outage hours
- Louisiana – 769 outages, 3,610 outage hours
- Washington – 609 outages, 1,969 outage hours
- Wisconsin – 568 outages, 1,534 outage hours
Many of these states are in the Midwest or South, regions that the report notes are especially vulnerable to both frequent and long-lasting outages.
Which States Are Safest from Summer Outages?
If you’re looking for peace of mind, states like Alaska, Hawaii, and Wyoming reported zero major summer outages over the last five years. Other low-risk states include Utah, New Mexico, and Idaho, all reporting fewer than 15 significant summer outages during the study period.
What This Means for Homeowners and Gardeners
For backyard gardeners, farmers, and anyone managing irrigation or relying on electric tools and timers, these outages can do more than just leave you sweating indoors. They can disrupt schedules, ruin crops, and damage equipment. Even a short outage can spoil a fridge full of produce or trigger irrigation delays during critical watering periods.
If you live in a high-risk state, it may be time to:
- Install a backup generator or battery storage system
- Consider solar panels for emergency energy independence
- Use smart thermostats and timers that resume function automatically
- Keep emergency lighting, fans, and coolers at the ready
Methodology
Wolf River Electric analyzed public data from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Event Correlated Outage Dataset, focusing on May through August from 2019 to 2023. Only outages affecting 5,000 or more customers were counted. States were ranked based on both the number of major outages and total average annual outage hours.
